Australia 'deeply concerned' over arrest of journalists in Malaysia

Reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu have had their
passports returned but have been barred from leaving Malaysia

Reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu

By Reuters

5:17AM GMT 14 Mar 2016

Australia is deeply concerned over the arrest of two Australian journalists in Malaysia after they attempted to question Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak over corruption allegations, foreign minister Julie Bishop said on Monday.

The journalists from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) flagship investigative journalism programme, Four Corners, were arrested in the Borneo state of Sarawak on Saturday night after approaching Mr Najib outside a mosque.

Malaysian police said in a statement that reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu had been arrested for failing to comply with police instructions not to cross a security line. They were released on bail on Sunday and charged with "obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his public functions".

Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak Photo: EPA

Mrs Bishop told ABC radio Australia was "deeply concerned."

"We are providing consular support to the ABC crew and certainly raising this issue at the appropriate level with the Malaysian government," she said.

Mr Najib has faced sustained pressure to resign since the middle of last year over allegations of corruption linked to the debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and deposits into his private accounts worth around $680 million.

He has denied any wrongdoing and maintains he did not use the funds for personal gain. Malaysia's attorney-general closed all investigations into Mr Najib last month, after reviewing reports from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

The government has also cracked down on media organisations that have published critical reports on the 1MDB scandal.

Last month, it blocked the widely read news portal The Malaysian Insider, prompting the United States to voice concern.

Sally Neighbour, the programme's executive producer, wrote on Twitter that the journalists had been in Malaysia reporting on the corruption scandal and denied any allegations of wrongdoing on their behalf.

.@tankengliang As I said there was no breach. In a democracy, journalists asking the PM questions is routine. @4corners